Display stand



Nov. 4, 1941. G, MAR'TlNus 2,261,122

DISPLAY STAND Filed May 2, 1939 UNITTED- STATE Patented Nov. 4, 1941 .ii

s PATEN C DISPLAY STAND Gabriel Martinus, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 2, 1939, Serial No. 271,279

.. Claims.

This invention relates to an improved display stand and has, for one of its principal objects, the provision of a device'of the class described wherein articles of various types may be adequately'and conveniently displayed, and wherein the construction is such that practically double the usually available amount of display space is obtained. v

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a display case especially adapted for use in grocery stores or the like wherein merchandise in smaller display containers may be adequately" gripped and easily displayed and wherein the goods will, furthermore, be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times.

Another important object of the invention is the provision in a display case or the like of means forpresenting various articles of merchandise for inspection and exhibition to the public in such a manner that the display will be visible from both sides and wherein, furthermore, the

merchandise will not be readily available for handling or filching by the customer while, at the same time, the dispensing clerk will find it much easier than heretofore to withdraw, weigh out and package the merchandise for sales and distribution purposes.

Another and still further important object of the invention resides in the provision of a display case which can be readily adapted for displaying,

handling, and easy sales of several types of merchandise as, for example, some merchandise put up in boxes or containers having transparent covers for exhibition purposes, and further merchandise either sold in bulk or single packages 'and either wrapped or unwrapped, but at least available for general and immediate, handling.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved display case of this invention, showing the same as adapted to receive a plurality of cracker or cooky boxes, but obviously the device may be used for suitably and adequately displaying other materials with equally good results.

Figure 2 is a perspective View similar to Figure 1 of the improved display case of this invention,

only showing the same as viewed from the opposite side. I

Figure 3 is a detail view of the device illustrating'the same with a plurality of cooky boxes or containers therein and also indicating the ready availability of the contents of the cooky tins or boxes.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral [0 indicates generally the top of a cabinet or display case, the-same being provided with end walls 12 and I4 respectively and provided with a bottom I6.

The sides of the device are open, and one of the main advantages at once becomes apparent in that merchandise may be displayed and dispe'nsed from both sides or faces of the display apparatus of this invention and in a safe, economical and handy manner.

The interior of the case is in the present .in- .stance adapted to contain a plurality of cooky or cracker tins such as are ordinarily used in grocery stores or the like, two of these tins being indicated at l8 and 2D in Figure 3 and two others being shown at 22 and 24 in the same figure. It will be noted that the cooky tins l8 and-20 are laid down on their sides while the tins 22 and 24 are set up On end, this being one of the reasons why considerably more space can be utilized in the device of this invention than has ordinarily heretofore been thought possible.

Mounted in what may be termed the front portion of the device is a shelf 26 which is for the purpose of supporting cracker tins or, the like l8, quite a number of these being ordinarily on display in a grocery store or the like, and each tin contains a difierent grade and type of crackers or cookies.

;An0ther shelf 28 is provided in the lower. portion of the apparatus, this being spaced from the bottom l6 by means of a base board or the like 30 as best shown in Figures 1 and 3. This base board is sufi iciently high to provide ready access to the contents of the tins l8 and 20, and inasmuch as these tins are usually provided with lids which open outwardly, it will be noted that the store clerks can, without any great amount of difficulty, readily gain access to and dispense the contents of the cans l8 and 20 whenever desired.

Inasmuch as these cans or tins are laid down on their sides, the height of the space between the shelves 26 and 28 is not quite so great as the height of the tin, the distance being equal to only the lateral measurement of the tin.

Stops 34 and 36 are provided for the tins i8 and 20 respectively, these stops acting in conjunction with the shelves 26 and 28 respectively and being shown in more detail in Figure 1. In this manner, the tins l8 and 20 are positioned in the display cabinet at a slight angle and tilted rearwardly as shown whereby more convenient access can be had to the contents through the hinged lids, usually on the front faces of tins or boxes of this type. It will also be noted that the lower ends of the containers l8 and 20 project slightly beyond the outer face of the display container itself while the upper edges are retracted slightly from the plane of this particular face of the device. This tilting arrangement gives the purchaser and consumer a better view of the contents of the tins in addition to making access and dispensing more easy.

The rear face of the display device is also open as best shown in Figure 2 and is, furthermore, provided with sloping shelves 42 and 44 adapted for the support of the boxes or tins 22 and 24 respectively. The lower shelf 44 has its inner end resting against the bottom 16, and its outer edge is not very high above the floor, thereby providing an arrangement whereby the tins 22 and 24 can be positioned in the container with their greatest dimension in a vertical position while, at the same time, their hinged lids or covers, which are usually transparent, are displayed to the public and also readily accessible by clerks. Stops 46 and 48 are provided respectively as shown whereby the tins are readily and properly positioned on their respective shelves.

The top Ill is also used for display purposes and may or may not be surmounted by uprights 50 which, in turn, support a platform 52, which platform can be used for accommodating other or related articles such as bakery goods or the like which are more or less associated with the crackers and cookies displayed in the tins |824. Obviously, merchandise of many and various classes may be displayed in a cabinet of this type with very little loss of advantageous space and also with a much greater facility for handling and distribution. The lateral dimensions of the cabinet may be so arranged that the desired number of tins or other containers may be rather closely fitted into each face of the device side by side, although, of course, there will be a greater number of those tins which are set upright as compared with those which are laid on their sides on the shelves 26 and 28.

The device is simple of construction, requires a minimum amount of space in conjunction with a maximum area of display, and the ease of dispensing merchandise of various types from the containers on the shelves or the top portion of the device contributes in a great degree to its practicability.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the spirit of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A display stand comprising vertical end pieces tapering toward the top, front and rear walls connecting the end pieces and extending upwardly from the bottom, the front wall extending relatively higher than the rear wall, sloping shelves extending inwardly from the tops of the front and rear walls, and other sets of sloping shelves above the first shelves and fastened between the end pieces, each shelf of a set placed at the same distance above its underneath shelf and a stop behind each shelf.

2. A display stand comprising vertical end pieces front and rear walls connecting the end pieces at the bottom, one wall extending relatively higher than. the other, an inwardly sloping shelf extending from the top of each wall, another set of inwardly sloping shelves above each of the first shelves equidistant therefrom and fastened between the end pieces, each shelf parallel to its underneath shelf and a stop for each shelf.

3. A display stand comprising vertical end pieces tapering toward the top, partial front and rear walls connecting the end pieces and extending upwardly from the bottom, one wall extending relatively higher than the opposite wall, inwardly sloping shelves extending from the tops of the walls, and other sets of inwardly sloping shelves above the first shelves fastened between the end pieces and every shelf placed at an equal distance above its underneath shelf, a top for the display stand, and stops behind each shelf comprising slats fastened between the end pieces,

4. A display cabinet comprising vertical end pieces tapering toward the top, a cover member, the front and rear of the cabinet being relatively open, two sets of inwardly sloping shelves positioned in the cabinet, the shelves of one set being respectively at a lower level than the corresponding shelves of the opposite set and a stop for each shelf.

5. A display cabinet comprising vertical end pieces tapering toward the top, a cover member, the front and rear of the cabinet being relatively open, two sets of inwardly sloping shelves positioned in the cabinet, the shelves of one set being respectively at a lower level than the corresponding shelves of the opposite set, and an individual stop for each shelf whereby boxes can be placed on the shelves and prevented from falling inwardly by the stops and whereby the inner top edges of the boxes are prevented from contacting each other.

GABRIEL MARTINUS. 

